Curious?

Here are some things I'm loving about my new place:

The garbage disposal.

[I have always wanted a garbage disposal!!!!!]

An actual cabinet from which to take my plates.

[You have no idea how annoying it can be to have to remove a pile of other dishes off the top of the plates, just to get one!!!!!!]

A dishwasher, along with plentiful counter space.

[A dishwasher!!  Counter space!!]

This downstairs bathroom wallpaper causes my soul to sing,

along with this upstairs bathroom shower curtain.

And, since I can't spend all my time sitting in the bathrooms, admiring the scenery,

these two other places are providing me much serenity:

My cozy little bedroom

[including built-in bookshelves!!!!!]

and this outdoor extension of living space

[I can't survive without trees!!!!!!!]

Add in this sweet friend

and the other one moving in in a few short weeks to all of these,

and you come up with a pretty great place to live.

[!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Hooray, NYC & L & G!

There is--between week 1 and week 2 of that all-consuming Piano Camp--a Saturday and half of a Sunday with which to play.  Hence, I hopped on a train and wended my way to a (somewhat abbreviated) Hash-Out-Life with Lisa & Geoff.  

Typical of HOL's, we Cafe Henri'd with our cafe au lait 

and brunch-above-all-other-brunches.

Hooray.

Then, since it was the type of day where walking into the outdoors required bursting spontaneously into wetness from every possible pore, we opted to stay in.  

We picked up another HOL favorite--iced coffee, hooray!--and then whiled away the hours with some catching up on our far-too-full-and-interesting-for-a-long-distance-friendship lives while basking in the pleasantry known as an air conditioned apartment.  

The hours whiled quickly,

and before we knew it, it was evening and time for a not-particularly-oppressive-yet-definitively-humid stroll along the Highline,

a city park built on an old freight rail line,

elevated above the city streets and crossing under the warehouses & factories that received it's goods back in the day.

We took in the sights,

until hunger pangs drove us to

The Shake Shack,

which I had requested for my birthday dinner.

Hooray.

Then, because we were melting, we went home.

The following day found us at another (strangely) routine HOL task:
apartment shopping.

Yes, somehow--and I really don't know how--L & G get the urge to apartment shop when I'm in town.  Hence, we scoped out a few local places

to get a feel for what may or may not be in L & G's future.

[Who knows what's on the horizon--other than that great view!--but at least

they know they've gotten my approval.  Hooray.]

Sadly, before we knew it, it was time for Piano Camp to take over my life again, and there was a train with my name on it pulling out of Penn Station.  

Regardless of its brevity:

HOL, Hooray!

A Piano Camp Vaccuum

If you were wondering where I disappeared to during the last two weeks, the answer is simple:

Piano Camp.

Every summer this dear lady--my grad school piano prof--holds a camp for those high schoolers who may be pianistically inclined at Westminster, and every summer she brings back her loyal followers to teach it:

Kristen,

Don (no picture!!),

Todd,

Richard, Laura (no picture!!)

Alynn,

me,

and the newbies:

Jared,

and Matt.

At 8 am breakfast the morning after a teaching schedule that ended at midnight and a 1.30 am bedtime due to the campers who would not shut up and go to sleep, these special people make life worth living.

The campers make it worthwhile too, 

as we watch them learn and grow as pianists,

as they soak up every word we say,

as they bring us their unique personalities,

and as they fiercely compete against each other during Piano Camp Jeopardy on Friday morning.

Then, after a long week of little rest and much intensity for all of us, they give us everything they've got left at the closing recital, leading us to say that--according to the Attitude Barometer Chart--

we are a 10:

We can't wait to come back next year!

And what a show it was!

Friday night members of the Kooistra and Suffern families arrived at a quaint little motor lodge near Saratoga Springs.  When I say quaint, I mean:

And, in case you think there is a man about to fall onto the hood of that car, allow me to allay your fears:

These guys showed up everywhere. 

Except for in the lounge, where we spent the evening playing games, reading, laughing, catching up, waiting for the real show to begin on the morrow.

Here's how it went down:

Dave and Kara welcomed the guests and gave us a program.

Johnny and the other groomsmen escorted us to our seats.

We waited, excitement brewing, until

the lovely bridesmaids prepared the way

for the beautiful bride to make her entrance.

We dabbed at a few tears as we watched our girl marry her man,

and we hooted and hollered when they left as husband and wife.

As they greeted their guests,

we extended family congratulated the celebrating family,

and then took the opportunity to hang out:

We loved it.

Which is why it was good that it wasn't over, 

since receptions are made with the specific purpose of hanging out.

This particular one was also made of: 

a little background jazz with Uncle Sterling,

a little itty-bitty

(who just loves being a part of us...),

family pictures,

family moments,

the eating of cake,

the throwing of birdseed,

and the being thrown at.

Just because the bride and groom took their leave,

don't think we were done with our hanging out...

Back at the motor lodge,

 we sat around and chatted over Aunt Phyllis's baked goodies

and refreshing beverages from the local Dunkin'.

(Don't we look refreshed?)

We dwelt in the good feelings that come from being together,

and from the joy of the day.

Congratulations Kate and Matt!

We love you, and loved sharing in your celebration!